2009 Sailing News
Page updated
28 March, 2010
ACYC Club Sailing
Race 7 June 28 2009
Changing weather patterns with ominous skies which opened up and soaked the fleet led to trying conditions in Sunday's race. A wet and windy ride and obscured scenery in the now favoured around-the-island and sausage course held the nine-member fleet with most under reefed mains, high on the rails for the first leg with Mother Nature slowly easing her wrath to allow, at times, a more gentle sail with more refreshing tunes to the sound of the wind blowing over the mouths of beer bottles. With some newcomers to the sailing X Cat Riot plowing through in bad weather
scene seasick, gymnastics at the
tiller, the conditions made for a hearty sail. Not one at heart for the Cruising Class who stayed away preferring other Sunday comforts!
Once again, the ongoing duel between Windstar and Minx made for some keen competition in Racing class. A close start, with Minx first over the line saw her lead the class of four with Katsu and Simone bringing up the rear, a lead that she held for most of the way. But getting down to the wire? With calls for water and tension on the rise at the inner channel marker at the end of the first sausage, the big crack of the day hit.
"Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow!" wrote William Shakespeare in King Lear. Well, if the Bard didn't refer to things going crack due to a slap across the backside during a raging gale, those on the high seas can. Hard on the wind and in a gust that found a rapidly moving XCatRiot alongside the beam, Windstar had the misfortune of cracking her tiller, leaving her without steerage. And then the expected? Was it luck? The heavens watching down on her? Or just good sail trim? Windstar did not take the natural course and head up to weather thereby saving XCatRiot from a possible T-bone in her first race of the year. Whew!
On a happier note, the strong winds gave way to a feat that is becoming seen more frequently. Happy Feet, obviously enjoying the winds, was seen tap dancing on her foils for much of the course. Despite the good show, it was not enough to steal the stage however. It was Charro which sailed the best race of the day against The Frog, XCatRiot and Moto Inzi.
Good winds, good fun and a souvenir for Windstar owner Peter Wood.
| Boat |
Name |
Place |
| Minx |
Kevin Gillow/Mick Kealy |
1 |
| Simone |
Roger Harris |
2 |
| Katsu |
Ben Copely |
3 |
| Boat |
Name |
Place |
| Charro |
Mark Horwood |
1 |
| The Frog |
Chris Jongerius |
2 |
| XCatRiot |
Bob Brindley |
3 |
Thumbs up to Kevin Gillow from Solidair Marine for sponsoring the day and to series sponsor Ray Marine. Cold beers and hot food was available at the clubhouse after the race; thanks go to the ACYC crew. Cheers to the racing crew Chandran and Tony Swain-Dudman from the start boat Onyx and MC Tony.
The full results the performance handicap can be viewed here: http://acyc.asiaaustraliatech.com
Photos of this race can be viewed here. Click here for the ACYC Photo Gallery.
Race 8 is Sunday July 14 after the SEA Properties/ACYC Multihull Challenge this weekend. See you out on the water!!
Text & photos by Leslie Hand
